Innovate Trust has received the Innovation Award at the Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board (RPB) Annual Conference 2025!
This award celebrates the Digital Solutions for Independence project, a joint effort with Cardiff Council and Vale of Glamorgan Social Services, for its work in helping adults with learning disabilities become more digitally included and independent.
A partnership at work
The Cardiff and Vale RPB Annual Conference 2025 brought together over 250 experts, partners, and community members.
The event celebrated the theme “Stronger Together: Celebrating Our Partnership.” The awards praised individuals and teams who have gone the extra mile to support people and communities in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Our Digital Solutions for Independence project started as a pilot and has since grown into a large-scale project, changing how local councils think about how they use technology in social care.
This partnership is so special to us, the combination of third-sector expertise with the resources of the local councils helps us address digital exclusion better.
Innovation in action
This project is built on a brand new kind of partnership. One where our Digital and Technology team contributes their specialised digital knowledge and implementation expertise, and Cardiff and Vale Social Services provide referral routes to individuals with learning disabilities and professional networks.
Together, we have created the Digital Assessment Tool (DAT). The DAT is an innovative digital referral pathway that enables the identification of technology solutions tailored to individual needs and aspirations.
Instead of using expensive, special equipment, the project uses everyday technology like Amazon Alexa and Ring doorbells. This makes the solutions more affordable, sustainable, and familiar for adults with learning disabilities and their support networks.
We have also created unique solutions, including custom 3D-printed devices and open-source tools for communicating!
Outstanding outcomes
Since it’s beginning, our Digital Solutions project has achieved quite a lot!
- 103 adults with learning disabilities were reached through referrals.
- 87.5% of those who took part feel more digitally included.
- 90% gave their experience a 5-star rating.
- 100% found the recommendations helpful and would tell others about the project.
- Over 70 professionals were trained in digital awareness and how to use technology.
- There was a 41% increase in referrals after training sessions with professionals.
What’s next?
This award and recognition shows that person-centred support isat the heart of innovation.
By bringing together a range of expertise and a focus on practical, person-centred solutions, this collaborative project has created a model for digital inclusion that improves wellbeing and independence and reduces social isolation for individuals with learning disabilities.
The success of this project proves how powerful working together can be.
It shows how new ideas can help adults with learning disabilities live more independently and stay connected to their communities.
We want to thank our partners at Cardiff Council and Vale of Glamorgan Council learning disability teams, Professor Jane Seale from the Open University, our funders who believed in our idea, and most importantly, the inspiring adults with learning disabilities who are at the heart of what we do.
Start your digital inclusion journey
Interested in chatting with a member of our team about our digital inclusion projects? Get in touch with us!
For more information about our other digital inclusion projects, you can check out our Digital and Technology service page!
